I’m the eldest of three sisters. I guess that’s the reason my sisters both believed pretty much anything I’d tell them. And being of a mischievous disposition, I often took advantage of that.
Judy told me she had a cold sore in her mouth and asked if I knew what to put on it. Well, I’d seen daddy use alum powder for fever blisters and I figured cold sores were a close cousin. So I told her I’d fix her what daddy used on his. She dutifully followed me into the kitchen.
I mixed a tablespoon of alum powder with about 4 ounces of water. I stirred it up until it was dissolved really good and told her to gargle with it, making sure she got plenty on the cold sore. Without a question she took a mouthful. Now for those of you who don’t know what alum is, it’s a powder used in pickling and it can be used for medicinal purposes. The down side of it is that it is extremely bitter.
Judy was standing at the kitchen sink and I had moved around to the back door proceeding to unlatch the back screen. When the bitterness hit her, her eyes flashed, and she glared at me. She began to drool, unable to swallow fast enough to take care of the amount of saliva that filled her mouth. Between all the spitting and carrying on, she told me in quite emphatic terms that she was going to beat me. And I knew she meant every word she was saying.
Now my problems multiplied quickly because I hung around long enough to enjoy the results of my prank. Too late I took off out the back door, trying to outrun her. Now she was a sprinter in middle school so I had no chance. My problem was doubled by the unwillingness of the gate in the back yard fence to open fast enough. True to her promise, she caught me and she beat me.
The funny part of it is that she still believed anything I told her. Yeah, I had a lot of fun growing up with her.
Grams
What is that noise? Sounds like one of the kids. They knew not to wake me. I’d worked from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the night before and needed to rest. I heard Brian tell Chris not to wake me. “Chris, please don’t wake momma. She’ll bring the alcohol.” About that time my bedroom door opened with a bang. “Mom,” Chris yelled, “Brian’s hurt.” “What’s wrong with him? What happened?” “He fell out of a tree.” Now I’m wide awake.
I headed for the front door. There Brian sat on the edge of the porch, his legs sticking straight out in front of him. When I got to where I could see the damage, he looked like he’d been peeled from head to toe. Dressed only in cut-off jeans, there was hardly any place that did not have a scratch, bruise, or cut. Tears rolled down his face, dripped onto his chest, and continued their journey, leaving tracks in the dirt on his belly.
“Son, what have you done? How did you get hurt like this?” He looked up at me and through the tears he said, “I was after a lizard.” “A lizard?” “Yes, Ma’am.” Sure enough, still clutched in his hand was a green lizard. The tail moved, so it was still alive. “Well, Brian, how did you fall?” He pointed to a tree at the edge of the yard. “I climbed up that tree after him and when I started back down, every limb I stepped on broke with me. I fell down through the tree, sliding all the way down the trunk. But I got the lizard.”
“You know I’ve got to clean these cuts and scratches, don’t you?” “Yes, Ma’am, I know.” I turned to tell Chris to get the alcohol, but he already had it, cotton balls and all. As gently as I could, I swabbed all the cuts and scratches and put band aids were needed.
I got him inside; mother fixed a hot lunch and then he piled up on the couch. Soon he was asleep. Now if I could get back to sleep.
Grams
Dinner was the time of the day when we all were together, a time for everyone to tell what they had done that day or what had happened to them during the day. There was no prescribed order; just general conversation around the table, laughing about some things and asking questions about other things. Now there’s six years between the ages of my sons, so the conversation could include anything and it usually did.
Chris looked across the table at me and said, “Mom, how fast have you ever been in a car?” I answered him back, “Oh, close to a hundred miles an hour one time with your dad.” I knew there was something else behind that question, so I asked him, “How fast have you ever been in a car?” He grinned really big and said, “164 miles an hour.” All of a sudden everything got really quiet.
I looked around at Brian and he was just sitting there trying to act like he hadn’t heard what Chris said. I turned back to Chris, “When were you in a car going that fast and who were you with?” Brian was squirming now. Then there were sounds coming from underneath the table. Brian was trying to kick Chris to be quiet, but it was too late.
Chris proceeded to tell me about his ride with Brian and one of his buddies who was driving a race car he and his dad had been working on. Brian chimed in with, “We were just testing out the motor to see if it was fixed. We didn’t go that fast very long and then we went back to the shop.” While Brian glared at Chris I proved myself a faithful parent and gave the expected lecture about not driving like that, how unsafe it was, and particularly when you’ve got your younger brother with you. If I were a judge of older brothers there would be no more rides for the younger brother. That turned out to be true, at least for a while.
Grams
I’ve thought a lot about this D6 Conference and I’m convinced it is more needed today than possibly when Moses instructed the children of Israel to teach their children. My job as parent, at least the instructing part, is complete, but I still have grandchildren I can help teach to love the Lord. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of those who have the foresight to sponsor a conference dedicated to bringing parents and children together around the Word of God. What a great idea and concept and to think it’s right out of the Bible. I hope you will take advantage of what God is providing.
Grams
I’ve been absent from my blog for the last several days. This has been a quiet time for me, a reflective time. Now I’m a thinker, an analyzer by nature, to the consternation of those closest to me. But there are times when it is good to reflect, to think back over your life; where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you’re going. It is always a good idea to take stock of your life, regardless of your depth of commitment to the Lord and His will for your life. And that is what I have been doing since July 21. Why that date? What is so special about that day?
July 21 is the birthday of my youngest. He turned 30. Ah! Now you see; now you understand. But this is more than just the reminiscences of a woman who is getting older. We are all doing that. I have taken the time to look back over the past 30 years, taking stock of my family; what all has happened, where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and where we all are at this time in our lives. It has been a bit overwhelming and humbling ’cause you see, my heart and mind has reeled with gratitude for a loving God who has been faithful all along the way.
Today I’m writing from a grateful heart, offering to my Lord a sacrifice of praise as the psalmist instructs us to do. God’s steadfast love, mercy, and goodness was not given to my boys and me because we were so deserving. Neither was it offered because we are able to do such mighty works for Him. It was offered simply because He loves us and that is so amazing to me. Yes, there are commands and directions He expects His children to follow, to live by, but that does not preclude His love for me, for us. I’ve come to believe that divine love is love that is offered expecting nothing in return. He loves me whether or not I love Him and it is on that basis only that I can praise Him today.
I doubt I’ll see another 30 years, but if I do, I’m positive God will still love me; He will still be faithful to His Word and promises to His children. I rest in that today and from a grateful heart I bless His name.
Grams
Some days are just hard. There’s no other way to describe them. What really gets tough is when there are a succession of days like that. When those times become reality, the child of God has a resource to fall back on, a person to whom they can go who will clear out the debris, smooth out the rough spots, and bring peace, joy, and contentment back into an otherwise hopeless day. Where do I go to find this kind of help? To the Word of God; through the years I’ve found it always has the answer for whatever need I may have at the moment. A case in point is Psalm 50.
Psalm 50 has been a favorite of mine for many years. To me the psalmist goes right to the heart of the matter, whatever a person is facing at any moment in life. It’s almost like God puts the brakes on, grabs you by the back of the neck and says, “Do you know who this is? Do you know to whom you’re talking? I’m the Mighty One, God the Lord.” Then He gathers His people around Him and says, “Listen to me, I am God, your God. You have made sacrifices and offered burnt offerings and I have no problem with the fact that you’ve done these things. But that’s not all there is to worshiping me. Do you think bulls and goats are anything to me? I own every beast alive right this moment. The cattle on a thousand hills are mine. Everything in the fields belongs to me.”
Now this next part is really neat. God says, “If I were hungry, do you think I’d have to ask you for something to eat? Do I have to have nourishment to live like you do? NO, But I will tell you what I do want. I want my people to offer to me a heart of gratitude, thanksgiving, and to do all you’ve promised me you’d do. Then turn to me when trouble hits. That’s all I want from you. And if you will do that, then I will deliver you and because of that deliverance, you will glorify me.”
The psalmist goes on to talk about the wicked, but the way things are put into perspective in this psalm grips me every time I read it It’s the one I go to then I’m having trouble getting my mind around all I need to; when life gets kind of hard and more than I can handle on my own. When I read this psalm I know what I need to do. Just line myself up with what He is saying and He’s promised to come to my aid in time of trouble. Recognize He’s God, the Mighty One. Don’t try to just do the surface things; go deep with God. Praise Him; obey Him; appropriate His promises into your life. If you’re His, then He is yours. It’s that simple.
I’m so grateful the Lord God lives in my heart and if I will just take the time to let Him be God, He has promised to take care of whatever comes my way. I don’t know if you needed this today or not, but I did and so you get to be part of it as well. God’s Word is the greatest piece of literature ever penned. Read it!
Grams
Thursday afternoon, August 7, my nephew David and I left Nashville headed for Chester, GA. To be more precise, we were going to spend the next couple of days at my son Chris’ house. Brian and his family were coming too. It was going to be a short visit, but those seem to be the only kind we can manage these days. And really, several short visits may be time better spent than one or two longer visits. Just a thought.
It was a great visit! The boys fished and road 4-wheelers. We all sat around and talked, told stories, and watched the grandkids play together. This was the first time Ellie, the youngest, was big enough to really play with Will and Neil. It was really a neat thing to watch.
Friday night was the time for the “big” meal. Chris was right on target; we enjoyed a “low country boil.” Now mountain folk and westerners don’t know what that is; at least, not by that name. You set up a propane cooker outside and set a huge pot on for water to boil. Then you add red potatoes (or new potatoes depending on when your garden has come in); a little later you add corn on the cob. When those are beginning to get tender, in goes Italian sausage. When that is cooked through, you begin to add the seafood. Now this is totally up to you, but we just add shrimp (not shelled). Some people put in crab legs. Actually, I guess you can put in anything you want at this point. The trick is to use the right seafood seasoning. Once the shrimp turns pink it’s time to eat.
The best thing to do is eat outside. Cover the table with paper or scrub the table really clean. Then after draining the water, pour the contents out on the table and everybody just digs in. Friday night Chris drained the water and the contents were dumped into two large bowls, one on each end of the table. Still the concept is the same–dig in!
Saturday morning was spent at Chris’ pool watching the kids swim and play in the water. Then after lunch we all began to pack up and head back to our homes. We all wanted to get back to our respective churches the next day.
It was a good time; one of the best we’ve had lately. Chris did a good job hosting the family get-together. Can hardly wait til the next one.
Grams
I pulled into the driveway. Mom and the boys were sitting on the front porch. Even though it was a hot summer day, there was a slight breeze blowing. Brian sat on the edge of the porch. When I walked up to him I realized his cut-offs were soaked. Sweat trailed down his belly, leaving tracks. His breath was coming in gasps. “Son, what’s wrong? What have you been doing?” He looked up at me with a strange glint in his eyes. “See that rabbit over there?” I looked in the direction he pointed. A large rabbit sat just in the edge of our yard, looking back at me. “Yeah. So?” “I aim to catch him.”
Did I hear him right? “Son, you can’t catch that rabbit. I don’t care how fast or sneaky you think you are, you will never catch that rabbit.” Brian took another deep breath and said, “You just watch me.” I just shook my head and went on in the house. It was time to start dinner. Ever so often I’d look out the door or window to see Brian run past as he chased in behind that old rabbit. Just about the time Brian would get close to him, the rabbit would hop a few feet, staying just beyond his reach. He’d just sit there looking back at Brian who, undaunted in his pursuit, continued to chase after him.
About an hour later I called Brian in to dinner. After the blessing I asked him, “Son, did you ever catch that rabbit”? “No,” he answered. “Not yet, but I will.” I had to admire his determination, however unguided it might be.
Did he ever catch that rabbit? What do you think?
Grams
It had been a good day. Christmas usually is that kind of day. Gifts had been exchanged and opened, the wrapping paper picked up, and the family was sitting around just enjoying being together. Soon it would be time to sit down to the family Christmas meal. Sometimes I think that’s the most enjoyable time of the holidays. There’s something about eating together that brings people closer, makes the time together special.
Then there is the one gift that just makes your day. It may be something you’ve wanted but just never got around to getting for yourself. The gift might even be a family heirloom, something passed on at this time because it was just the right time in your life to receive it. Whatever the gift may be or the reason for receiving it, that one gift absolutely made this Christmas especially memorable for you.
This particular Christmas, Brian was 4 years old. Why they did it, I’m not really sure, but my parents, his Mawmaw and Poppa gave Brian a Timex watch. I can tell you that a Timex watch was not on his Christmas wish list.
The adults were sitting around talking and Brian was playing with his gifts. Somewhere in all the activity, Brian went outside. Now that was not unusual for him so no one took notice of it. Then the front door opens and Brian walks in holding his new watch up by the band. He looked at me and said, “That man lied.” I could only stare in consternation. The watch no longer looked like a watch. What had been a usable timepiece was now only a twisted piece of metal. “What did you do?” Brian looked at me out of the most innocent looking blue eyes and said, “That man on TV said it could take a licking and keep on ticking. But he lied.”
Well, there was nothing to say. He had smashed the watch between two rocks; no, it did not keep on ticking. His Mawmaw informed him she would never buy him another watch. To my recollection, she kept that promise.
Grams
